Russellville City Council tables talks on Alliance agreement A primary reason the Russellville City Council called a special meeting Tuesday was to discuss its agreement with the Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development (AVAED). However, a Pulaski County Circuit Judge’s ruling may have put a temporary halt to economic development funding — in Russellville and most likely throughout Arkansas. After discussing Monday’s ruling that stated Little Rock and North Little Rock must stop paying their re...

Early voting begins TuesdayEarly voting for the State Senate District 16 seat begins Tuesday. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays Tuesday through Jan. 12 at the Pope County Election Headquarters on East Main Street in Russellville. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Jan. 13, at six locations throughout the county. District 16 encompasses all of Pope and Newton counties and parts of Boone, Carroll and Van Buren counties. The ...

Huckabee leaving Fox News show ahead of decision WASHINGTON (AP) — TV host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says he is leaving his Fox News talk show as he considers whether to seek the Republican nomination for president, a decision he expects to reach in the spring. Huckabee told the network that Saturday night's edition of "Huckabee" would be his last as he ponders his political future, Fox News reported. The weekly show, which is taped with a live audience and features political co...

Fort Smith to spend $200 million on sewer system FORT SMITH (AP) — Federal and state officials say the city of Fort Smith will spend more than $200 million over the next 12 years on upgrades to its sewer collection and treatment system to reduce discharges of raw sewage and other pollutants into local waterways, including the Arkansas River. Under a settlement filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Fort Smith will also pay a $300,000 civil penalty and spend $400,000 on a program to help qualif...

Bald Knob fires police chief on mayor's 1st day BALD KNOB (AP) — The police chief in Bald Knob has been fired during a City Council meeting called by the town's new mayor on her first day in office. The council voted 4-3 Wednesday with Mayor Beth Hale Calhoun casting the tie-breaking vote to fire Police Chief Tim Sanford after calling the special meeting to vote on firing him. Calhoun said more than 750 people asked her to make the change while she was campaigning for mayor. She declined fu...

Arkansas approved for changes to 'private option' The federal government on Wednesday approved Arkansas' request for changes to the state's compromise Medicaid expansion that will require recipients to make monthly co-payments to health savings accounts and put limits on transportation for routine doctor visits and other non-emergency services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a letter to Arkansas Department of Human Services Director John Selig that it has approved the ...

New leaders take officeCity and county officials elected during the 2014 general election took office Thursday. Mayor Randy Horton was scheduled to preside over his first meeting with the Russellville City Council on Thursday — a called meeting to organize council rules and regulations — after being sworn in at the Pope County Courthouse. Former mayor Bill Eaton was sworn in as an alderman for Ward 2, Position 1 — the seat vacated by Horton. Aldermen who were re-ele...

Panel on officials' salaries holds second meeting LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Members of a panel reviewing salaries for Arkansas' elected officials said Tuesday they want to know whether any pay adjustments can be applied retroactively if they're not included in an initial report due next year. Independent Citizens Commission Chairman Larry Ross said he wanted to know what power the commission has if it doesn't include salary adjustments in a report due on Feb. 2. The commission was formed to review s...

Candidate Q&A: State Senate District 16Thomas Akin Why are you seeking this position? District 16 needs a Senator with real business experience and a financial background to help pass laws that will help small business grow and create jobs. What will you bring to the position that your opponents will not? I have 30 years experience in business. I have started most of my businesses from nothing and worked in them daily, growing each one into a successful business. It takes hard work...

2014 highlighted by GOP sweep in Arkansas LITTLE ROCK (AP) — For the past three election campaigns, Republicans warned Democrats the days of Arkansas being the holdout in a solidly GOP south were numbered. Those days came to an end in 2014, and on a scale that surprised even some GOP figures. By the time the election results were tallied, Republicans in November claimed all of Arkansas' constitutional offices, toppled a two-term Democratic U.S. senator and expanded their grip on the s...

Incoming House speaker says focus is on economy LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The incoming speaker of the Arkansas House says he sees economic development as the top priority for next year's legislative session, and he is leaving open the possibility that lawmakers can address highway funding issues, too. Republican Rep. Jeremy Gillam, who will take over as the chamber's leader next month, said he believes efforts to cut taxes, overhaul the state's workforce education program and to address road needs...

Arkansas to appeal federal gay marriage ruling LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' attorney general filed a notice in federal court Tuesday that he will appeal a judge's ruling that said voters were wrong to ban gay marriage during a referendum 10 years ago. U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker had ruled Nov. 25 that Arkansas' gay-marriage ban and separate law restricting marriages to one man and one woman were unconstitutional. She delayed enforcement of her order and gave the state until Friday t...

FBI asks agencies to watch Memphis, Tenn., bridges LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The FBI asked law officers assigned to areas around the Mississippi River bridges at Memphis, Tennessee, to help keep an eye on the spans after a vague threat came in warning that one would be blown up. FBI spokesman Christopher M. Allen said Tuesday from Washington the threat was "unsubstantiated." The agency's Memphis office alerted local police as a matter of routine but there was no specific threat to address, Memphis Sp...

Highway department pulls projects LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas highway officials say three road projects set for 2015 won't go out for bids next month amid questions about federal funding. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department said Tuesday $30 million worth of projects in Lee and Phillips counties, Crawford County and Franklin County won't be on the Jan. 27 bid list. The department relies on federal funds for some projects, but the Federal Highway Trust Fund could ...

Fort Smith library relies on cuts, reserves in 2015 FORT SMITH (AP) — Fort Smith's public library system will cut spending and dip into its reserves to balance its budget for 2015. The Southwest Times Record reported a financial overview from the Fort Smith library system's $2.79 million budget for next year is "essentially flat." The library has two major sources of revenue — a 6 percent share of the city's portion of a 1 percent Sebastian County sales tax, and a 1-mill tax on personal and rea...

Plant Board approves pesticide systems LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas State Plant Board has approved the use of two forms of genetically modified crops and their attendant pesticides for use in the state. The new technologies will permit growers the ability to combat pigweed and other persistent broadleaf weeds as early as the 2015 growing season. Jason Norsworthy, professor of crop, soil and environmental science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and t...

Eaton presides over last meeting as mayor Russellville Mayor Bill Eaton and Aldermen Martin Irwin and Randy Horton were recognized during the last City Council meeting of 2014 on Thursday night at City Hall. And it was a special night for more than those occasions. Eaton, who served as alderman before being elected mayor in 2011, not only thanked the city’s employees and the community for their support the last four years, but pointed out he “married the most wonderful woman 48 years ...

Russellville aldermen to meet with Alliance membersThe Russellville City Council approved the 2015 General Fund and Special Funds budgets Thursday night, with the promise aldermen will call a special meeting with members of the Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development (AVAED) to discuss the city’s contribution to the organization. Finance Committee chairman and Mayor-elect Randy Horton amended his motion to pass the Special Funds budget with the exception of items regarding Alliance f...

Atkins employees changing in 2015ATKINS — The community will wake up New Year’s Day to a new alderman, new city clerk, water and sewer directors and a new police chief later in the month. And all city employees will have increased salaries. The Atkins City Council wrapped up its 2015 budget meetings during a called meeting Tuesday. The budget will be voted on during the council’s Jan. 13, 2015, regular meeting. Mayor Jerry Don Barrett said aldermen unanimously approved the hi...

Panel on officials' pay holds first meeting LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Members of a newly formed panel reviewing Arkansas elected officials' salaries said Thursday their initial report likely won't say whether a pay hike is needed. The Independent Citizens Commission held its first meeting since voters approved the panel as part of a constitutional amendment overhauling the state's ethics restrictions and easing term limits for lawmakers. The commission is charged with reviewing and adjusting s...